President Rodrigo Duterte's decision to run for senator is not his attempt of evading prosecution, according to acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles on Tuesday.
Duterte's decision to run for senator drew criticism from different groups, including one from Gabriela Representative Arlene Brosas who accused that the president’s last-minute filing as a senator is a "desperate and vain attempt to evade prosecution."
But Nograles denied this.
"Wala pong page-evade ng prosecution ito at ang mga batikos na narinig po natin ay wala pong katotohanan ang mga akusasyon na yan," he told reporters.
(There is no evading of prosecution and the criticism and accusations that we’ve heard are not true.)
He said that Duterte's decision to run as senator is because the president wants to continue serving the nation even after his term.
"Si Pangulong Duterte ay tumatakbo bilang senador dahil siya po ay naniniwala na marami pa siyang pwedeng ibigay sa taong bayan in terms of public service," he said.
(President Duterte is running as senator because he believes that he could still offer a lot more in terms of public service.)
According to Nograles, at the end of the day, it will be up to the public to vote for Duterte in the 2022 polls.
"At the end of the day po, taong bayan na lang po ang humusga," he said. "Mga kababayan, nasa inyo po, nasa kamay po ninyo ang pagpili kung sino ang gusto niyong maging lider ng ating bansa."
(At the end of the day, the public will decide. My fellowmen, the choice to choose the next leader of our country is in your hands.)
Duterte through a representative on Monday filed his Certificate of Candidacy as senator for the 2022 national elections, contrary to initial reports that he will be running as vice president and run against his daughter Davao Mayor Sara Duterte.
